BREAK OUT YOUR DANCING SHOES. Slaughter a sheep. Bang a drum. Nail yourself to a cross. Festivities mark our years and our lives, our births and our deaths.

I snapped this from the bus window as we left Gondar. It could have been a funeral, or a political rally, or anything else. They looked like they were enjoying themselves, so I filed it under "celebration".

Ala Archa is a mountainous national park close to the Kyrgyz capital, Bishkek. It is a popular spot for wedding celebrations.

Held every two years, the World Nomad Games is a celebration of sports and culture of the steppes. 2016 (and 19) were hedl in Kyrgyzstan. 2020 was scheduled to be held in Turkey.

Kazak riders score against Kyrgyzstan, by throwing a headless goat into the goal, in the kokbaru final in Kyrgyzstan, World Nomad Games, 2016.

The 2018 World Nomad Games featured 2000 athletes from 82 countries, competing in 37 sports. Wrestling, hunting archery and horses are the main focus, often combining two at the same time.

The stunning run of Thailand's womens T20 cricket team went all the way to the World Cup. Here they are celebrating their second early English wicket.

The bride, eyes suitable downcast, arrives in her new Tajik village in Uzbekistan's mountains. While the rest of the village celebrates, a bride must show sadness for leaving her family.

Weddings are massive and expensive affairs, and so many weddings are hosted by two couples to share costs.

While the guests enjoy themselves, the couples sit stern faced all day, rarely moving from their place.

The sculpted parks on the grounds of the Ak Saray Palace ruins in Shahrisabz, Uzbekistan, is always busy with marrying couples celebrating their big day.

In the rural town of Phrae in northern Thailand, girls lead the school parade throughthe streets. I have witnessed these parades a couple of times, and dress ranges from traditional to vampire to cos-play to just downright weird.

Thailand's Songkran water festival has devolved into a heavily armed water fight free-for-all in Chiang Mai, fun once, for a day. Away from Thapae gate, it is a bit better.

The festival welcomes the new year, where people bless each other with a scoop of water to wash away the year's sin.

Songkran is heaps more fun upcountry than in Thailand's bigger cities. On the road between Mae Sariang and Mae Hong Son, came across several villages partying on the highway.

A school parade in the Thai border town of Mae Sot, a mix of traditional, Victorian, Gothic, cowboy and downright weird.